Rattling Cages

I found two quotes I like and I couldn’t decide on which one to use so I am using both of them…

“People only get really interesting when they start to rattle the bars of their cages”

-Alain de Botton

“Half of your power lies in your sameness with others. The other half lies in your uniqueness”

-Alan Cohen

I am not a person who likes conflict. I prefer to be a peacemaker. Rarely do I start a fight. However, I rarely back down from one either. I don’t like to rebel just for the sake of rebelling. However, when I think something is unfair or unjust, it is virtually impossible for me to stay silent. I cannot fight all the world’s battles but I try to fight the ones I can. More people should rattle more cages. However, there are right ways to do this and wrong ways to do this. Regardless of our gender, age, race, ethnicity, or sexual preference, we are more alike than different. Diversity celebrates our sameness as well as our individual unique qualities. I am older than I act and I am proud of this contradiction. I refuse to act like an old person unless it gets me a senior citizen discount at a restaurant. I am proud to be an aging hippie who still likes to rock and roll even if I can no longer jump around all over the place. When I attend a concert these days I need a seat that provides proper lumbar support. I love it that my wife yells at me for playing Led Zeppelin too loud. I love it that my granddaughter thinks I’m a little weird and might possibly be a wizard. I also like that I have a quiet, introspective side that is more like a Buddhist monk than a rock and roll star. I like being an enigma to some people and I hope to die rattling my cage or someone else’s. I am not Mr. Excitement but I don’t think anyone thinks I am boring. Whoever you are, be unique and rattle a few cages along the way. It’s good exercise.